According to the Associated Press, Sherman’s win comes a whopping 57 years after he attended the Derby as an exercise rider for then winner Swaps. At 77 years old, this was Sherman’s first time training a horse in the Derby. With California Chrome’s push to first place in the last leg of the race, Sherman found himself living quite the fairytale ending.

“It’s been a long haul,” Sherman told press after the race. “I’m just the same old Art Sherman, except I won the Kentucky Derby.”